Every relationship has its own complexities - Dia Mirza

In a career spanning close to a decade, Dia Mirza has acted in close to three dozen films. There may have been misses and hits but she has continued to stay afloat and make her presence felt in the industry. Now that she can be seen on screen in a solo-heroine act in Hum Tum Aur Ghost, she is enjoying all the good words coming her way. However, she also continues to battle rumours about her alleged relationship with Arshad Warsi. Coming up with a rather brave stance, she sets the record straight about the rumours floating round the town and announces loud and clear that such link up stories only make for idle gossips and should be best left ignored.

In 'Bollywood Today', before the release of every film, there are link up stories that start making the rounds. Seems this time around, the flavour of the season is Arshad and you...
(Smiles) That's only because there is a herd mentality when it comes to publicity and marketing of the film. People pick up what they wish to write about but the sad part is that in this process, there are so many other elements that get sidelined. While we keep going on and out about a possible relationship between the lead couple, there are so many other good aspects of a film that we do not talk out. There is so much good work that has gone into filming a scene, the VFX have been superb, and the art direction is phenomenal. But nahi, we only end up talking about the so-called affairs.

But then don't you feel that even readers pretty much get it that all of these gossips are obvious imaginations of someone's idle mind?
Exactly, and you know it is all so vague. Sabko maloom hai that when it comes to Arshad and me, yahan aisi koyi affair ki baat ho hi nahi sakti. We are so thick buddies for years. When readers pick up a news item around the link up, they know ki yeh sab bakwaas hai. Thankfully, Arshad and I haven't got the sharp end of the sword, as has been the case with Deepika and Farhan. Really, weren't they just crucified!? I guess compared to what they went through, Arshad and I are so much in a comfortable zone.

As a woman you can be expected to empathise with her situation...
That's true. It's all so rubbish, you know. People don't realise that when there are two people being linked together, especially when it comes to a married man and a young woman, you are basically saying that this particular woman has no morals or values. Now all of that is so insulting.

You appear to be hurt...
More than being hurt, it is amusing. (Laughs) Arrey, maine toh kitni baar kaha hai that if you want to link me up then please do that but then pick up someone who is single. Kam se kam wahan par there would be a possibility of something happening later in the day. Then you can also come back and say that 'humnein toh pehle hi bola that ki tum donon ki beech mein kuch hai'. What scope do you have when you pick up a married guy; then there is no chance in hell.

I guess Maria (Arshad's wife) may be laughing away all the insinuations as well. After all she must have been hearing such gossips for ages now.
I can't say whether Maria would be laughing it all away; after all every relationship has its own complexities. There are so many things that can affect a relationship. See, when you are a couple, it is just not about you and me. There are parents, extended families etc. etc. I can give you my own example. When my uncles and aunties read something about me in papers or magazines, they do ask me ki kya isme kahin koyi sachchai toh nahi. When you are faced with such a question, it does bother you eventually. Suddenly you find yourself in a place where you have to justify your act, your relationships etc.

But then doesn't all of this come with the territory of being an actor?
Ok, so all of this does come with a territory and as actors you have to get used to it. But then in a lifespan of being an actor, for how many times can you continue to defend yourself? It does hurt after all when you hear about your untrue romantic tales.

On a happier note, you must be happy about all the good feedback coming your way vis-À-vis your performance in Hum Tum Aur Ghost...
Of course yes. There is so much more that the film offers beyond what one has seen in the promos. There are layers within layers and yet everything is so subtle. I am shocked that Arshad has written the film so brilliantly. I don't know whether he also realises it that he is so brilliant. Actually don't tell him that I said so (laughs).

Why?
Well, sometimes, brilliant people should not know that they are brilliant; they are best left in their zone and allowed to experiment with good work! Agar kahin bata doge doge toh unki innocence na chali jaaye!